Page 35 of Sweet Siren
"Luncheon."
"Good. Ah, you go, Julian. Get her comfortable. I need a few things. I'll be right up." She ran back down the stairs right up toKillian.
He stood, his face white, staring up at thestairs.
She put her hands to his chest and clutched the satin of his waistcoat. Beneath her fingers, his heart beat strong and fast. "Killian, she'll be fine. We'll make her comfortable and wait for thedoctor."
"But if she delivers before he getshere—"
"She won't. Killian—" She put her fingertips to his cheek. His flesh was warm, his smoothly shaven jaw silk under her skin. "Look at me. She's safe and warm and in her own bed. She has her husband with her and all her family close to cheer heron."
His silver eyes flashed in pain. "But it's her first, Liv. You know all the things that can gowrong."
"Darling, listen to me. She's young and healthy. And you know these things take hours. Hours. We'll get the doctor here. And by tomorrow morning, you'll have your first grandchild. Think ofthat."
He caught her hand and squeezed hard. Then with gratitude in his gaze, he raised her fist and kissedit.
"Now where is that bottle of brandy?" she asked him with a grin. "Get it, Killian. Drink, will you? But first, show me the way to thekitchen."
* * *
The sun splitthe dark of night from the horizon as Killian spun to the sound of Liv's footsteps. She walked toward Julian who sat, his head in his hands, in the hall chair. Ada had gone to bed hours ago. Pierce had stretched out on the settee in the parlor downstairs, his only companion a pot of coffee. Killian had stayed with Julian, pacing before the hall window countless timestonight.
Liv's sun-fire hair was down, her pins long since fallen or pulled out in her long vigil over Lily. Somewhere she'd found a ribbon and fashioned the wealth of it to stream down her back. The overall effect made her appear like a nymph from the sea. A tired nymph. For the duty she'd eagerly taken up to attend Lily in her first labor, she wore a huge white apron, loaned to her by the family cook. Her face seemed peaceful, her gaze steady with whatever she was about toimpart.
Julian stared up at her. "News?"
"What?" Killian asked her, incapable ofmore.
"It won't be long now." She told Julian and said to Killian, "I can see the head of thebaby."
"Oh, Liv," Julian groaned. "She sounds like she's splitting intwo."
Liv went to her knees before him and squeezed his hands. "It's normal, Julian. She's doing well. You don't see her in between contractions but she's really strong and brave. Eager to see her baby,too."
"If only we had the doctor," hecomplained.
"I know. But we can't help that Elanna and Carbury summoned himfirst."
Killian could scarcely believe that Elanna had gone into labor with her child on the very night that Lily did. Pierce had taken a horse from the stables and ridden over to Carbury's house when the butler returned from town to say that the countess had requested the doctor hours before. When Pierce returned, he'd been white as sheets and Killian could only surmise he was afraid for Elanna, but also disturbed by Carbury. The two men had never gotten on. Carbury, wise in few things when it came to people, had long seen the attraction that Pierce had to Elanna. The earl was an irritable man, quick to anger, eager to judge, bent on ridicule. No wonder Elanna had become bitter,irrational.
"Listen to me, Julian," Liv beseeched him. "The baby comes. Soon. I don't know when but Lily's close todelivery."
"If he gets stuck. That happens to women. If she can't pushhim—"
"Julian, Julian. She's not frail. She's not petite. I know it's painful to sit out here and wait fornews."
"Damn right. I'm going in." Eyes wild, he shot to his feet. "To hell withconvention."
Off he marched and Liv staggered a stepbackward.
Killian caught her around the waist and let her rest against him. The feel of her in his arms was intoxicating. "Let him go. Might do them both good." He turned her around gently, lifted her chin and brushed tendrils of hair from her cheeks. "You're exhausted. But doing such a wonderfuljob."
She let her head hang back and she looked up at him through half-lidded, weary eyes. "Thank you, dearsir."
"Have you eaten?" The butler had ordered a full meal of beef and potatoes for everyone about three this morning. He'd delivered a heaping tray into Lily's chamber. The rest he placed in the dining room. None ate it. It cooled on the dining room table when Ada, Julian and Killian abandoned it to return back up the stairs to wait in thehall.
Liv closed her eyes and shook herhead.
